Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of supporting a nationally recognised clinical definition of advanced Parkinson’s disease across the NHS.

The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of supporting a separate nationally recognised clinical definition of advanced Parkinson’s disease across the National Health Service. However, existing National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance and NHS England’s specialised adult neurology service specification support the identification and management of people with Parkinson’s disease who have more complex needs, including through multidisciplinary care and access to specialist input where clinically appropriate.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations, including services for people with Parkinson’s disease. They are expected to consider NICE guidance and best practice when designing local pathways.

NHS England is supporting improvements in neurological care through programmes including Getting It Right First Time for Neurology, the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, and the recently completed Neurology Transformation Programme. These aim to reduce unwarranted variation, improve access to specialist services, and support more integrated care for people with progressive neurological conditions.

Improved management and timely treatment can help maintain independence, reduce avoidable deterioration, and support better use of NHS resources. NICE guidance emphasises the importance of people with Parkinson’s receiving their medicines on time, and the NHS in England is legally required to fund NICE-recommended treatments, including advanced therapies, where patients meet the relevant criteria.